POST MATCH | Warne's disappointment after QPR defeat

Rotherham United interim manager Paul Warne couldn’t hide his disappointment as the Millers fell to a 5-1 defeat against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

The Millers went behind to a Matt Smith strike after five minutes, but levelled when Joe Newell crashed in a spectacular equaliser from 25 yards.

QPR restored their lead through Luke Freeman, before a Yeni Ngbakoto penalty just after the break gave the hosts daylight.

Further strikes from Massimo Luongo and Nedum Onouha rounded off a tough afternoon for Warne’s side, leaving the interim boss frustrated that his troops couldn’t maintain their first-half display.

“It was pretty brutal,” said Warne.

“That and Cardiff were probably the worst two away performances. I thought that we set up well, and we started the game well but they scored through a defensive error.

“We gave them two goals out of nothing. Joe Newell scored a good goal, and I honestly thought we were the better team. I thought we had most of the possession and more of the set pieces - we looked a threat.

"But unfortunately if you defend like that in the Championship, every mistake is punished. I told a few home truths at half-time hoping that would get a reaction, but the same individuals had another poor performance in the second half.

“There are only so many times that you can encourage people. I went good cop, and bad cop. I told them the truth and that they are better players than that, but they need to show me.

“I thought that we had a good week on the training ground, we watched no end of QPR. We do a lot of work on the game, so to see it undone with one long ball in the first-half, and their first shot is disappointing. If I had hair I’d pull it out."

Newell's strike, a goal of the season contender, had raised hopes for the Millers who matched their opponents for large spells of the first-half. Two goals conceded just after the break ended Rotherham hopes, despite Warne introducing new signing Carlton Morris in the second half who came off the bench to make his debut.

"Joe Newell has probably scored the goal of the day in any league I would have thought," Warne added.

"The first-half performance was good but that it makes the second half harder to take.

"Danny Ward had taken a couple of hits. He hurt his glut and had a twingy calf, he gave me everything so it wasn't worth the physical risk so I took him off at the end.

"You can see his (Carlton Morris) physicality and you can see he has an eye for goal. I thought he could have scored to be honest when we had that move when Wardy pulled it back to him. That would have been something to take. He will play a part now through to the end of the season."